2015 Chalmers Greco

Chalmers

Australia / Heathcote / Chalmers

Greco is the name given to a bunch of grape varieties cultivated across Southern Italy, named as such because of the belief that they were brought to Italy from Greece. Whether this is in fact true there have been Greco vines growing in this part of Italy for thousands of years, most notably the strain of Greco which makes DOCG Greco di Tufo in Campania and in Puglia where it makes some of the best white wines in the region because of its high natural acidity. The Greco vines in the Chalmers Heathcote vineyard are Greco di Tufo, imported by the Chalmers family in the late 1990s and planted at Heathcote in 2011. Grapes were hand harvested and whole bunch-pressed into stainless steel tanks and wild fermented at 14 degrees. The wine was cold stabilised and bottled after 6 months to release young and retain freshness. The 2015 wine has beguiling aromas of marzipan, juicy white peaches and aromatic spice lead to a chalky, mineral palate of poached quince with appealing phenolic grip and the trademark mouthwatering acidity of Greco.

April, 2016

Gary Walsh

The Wine Front

93 points

This is a super dry white of easy enjoyment, difference and some complexity. Apricot kernel, brine, almond and melon. Light bodied, but flavoursome, smooth glassy acidity, gentle powdery texture, clean finish perfumed with sweet herbs and ripe lemon. Very hard to stop drinking it. I don’t know whether or not I’m rating it too highly, but gee it’s good.

April, 2016

Ben Thomas

The Weekly Review

93 points

I really enjoyed the 2014 rendition and this white, originally from the Campania region in southern Italy, continues the form. Peach, pear and spice aromas are floral and complex. It’s textural and grippy with a chalky element behind the pear, peach and dried herb flavours. There’s a pithiness on the fnish that works really well with food.

Standard Bottle Out of Stock

About Chalmers

The Chalmers family was justly named 2014 Viticulturist of the Year by Gourmet Traveller WINE. Their commitment to innovation and excellence has made them a pivotal force in the Australian wine scene for more than 20 years. Bruce and Jenni began growing grapes in the 1980s, with their vineyard at Euston developing into one the largest and most diverse privately owned vineyards in the country. Their nursery business was responsible for importing a selection of around 70 new clones and varieties, many of which are now used in the production of Chalmers' Italian variety wines. Since selling the original vineyard in 2008 the family has established two new sites: one in Heathcote, henceforth responsible for all Chalmers wines, and one at Merbein where the family will continue to experiment with new varieties and clones. Very much a family concern, daughters Kim and Tennille are now driving this exciting business forward.

About

Kim studied at the University of Adelaide before joining the family business. She has been director at Chalmers Wines since 2005, managing operations from the vine to the wine list. In 2011 she was awarded an AgriFoods Skills Australia Overseas Fellowship, for which she wrote a paper entitled “Hot climate wine growing, making and marketing in Southern Italy and its application in Australia”. Kim's husband, winemaker Bart van Olphen completed the family team in 2011, a year after sister Tennille joined the business full time following a 10-year career in hospitality, most recently as a sommelier. The Chalmers sisters have been pivotal in turning the Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show into a major event on the wine awards calendar. In 2015 they also spearheaded 21st Century Vino, an initiative to increase awareness and expertise in Italian vine varieties grown in Australia.